Thabo Cele leaves Kaizer Chiefs after contract ends by mutual consent

Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Thabo Cele has left the club after both parties agreed to terminate his contract, making the 29-year-old a free agent ahead of the 2026/27 season.

The Soweto club confirmed the decision on Monday following discussions with Cele, bringing his time at Naturena to an end as Kaizer Chiefs continue to reshape their squad.

“Kaizer Chiefs have terminated Thabo Cele’s contract by mutual agreement, following constructive discussions between both parties. The decision will allow Cele to pursue new opportunities while Amakhosi continue to reshape their squad for the 2026/27 season,” the club said.

Cele joined Kaizer Chiefs with significant expectations and was viewed as an important midfield addition. However, his spell with the club has ended earlier than anticipated, with the two sides choosing to bring their contractual relationship to a close.

The midfielder is now free to consider his next move. Kaizer Chiefs did not disclose the details of the agreement that led to the termination of his contract.

The club thanked Cele for his contribution and wished him success in the next stage of his career.

“We thank ‘Induna Yendawo’ for his commitment during his time at Kaizer Chiefs and wish him the very best in his future career,” Chiefs added.

Cele’s departure represents another change at Amakhosi as the club works to assemble a squad capable of challenging consistently for major honours. His exit also creates another area for the technical team to address while it reviews the current group of players and decides who will remain part of its plans for the new campaign.

The decision comes during what is expected to be a busy period of restructuring at Kaizer Chiefs. The club is likely to see further movement before the new season is fully under way, with both arrivals and departures forming part of its efforts to reshape the squad.

For Cele, the immediate priority will be finding a new club after becoming available on a free transfer. His next destination has not been announced.

Kaizer Chiefs’ announcement brings an end to the midfielder’s time at Naturena and confirms that he will not form part of the club’s plans as preparations continue for the 2026/27 season.